Rail brace



D.3,194o. G ARNOLD 2.223,855

RAIL BRACE Filed Nov. 25, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3'/ INVENTOR ;2a 4a faeae 192/1040 ATTORNEY Patentecl Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED sTATEs RAIL BRACE i George Arnold, Shaker Heghts, Olo, assignor to Cleveland Frog & Crossing Co., Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application November 25,1939, Serial No. 306,124

4 Claims.

This invention relates to rail braces for holding railway rails against lateral movement.

An object of the invention is to provide a rail brace which is eificient, which possesses the required adjustments relative to the rail, which is so formed as to have accurate bearing contact against the rail at the critical points and which is composed of a minimum number of parts and is therefore economical to manufacture and install.

Another object is to provide a rail brace including a wedge member for moving the brace tightly against the rail and wherein a single set of fastening means is employed to hold the brace block in position on the base plate and in tight engagement with the wedge member.

A further object is to provide a rail brace including a wedge member for moving the brace tghtly against the rail and wherein means is provided for positively holding the Wedge against longitudinal movement when it has been assembled in operative position.

A still further object is to provide a rail brace including a Wedge member for moving the brace tightly against the rail and wherein the brace block and the wedge member are provided with cooperating teeth or serrations adapted to interlock when the Wedge member has been properly positioned with respect to the block and the latter secured to the base plate, together with means for positively looking the wedge member against longitudinal movement relative to the brace block and effective only when said cooperating teeth or serrations are fully interengaged.

A still further object isto provide a rail brace wherein the brace block has an internal overhanging extension, heel or lip beneath which the wedge is located, thus reducing to a minimum the number of parts required for clamping the wedge ,in operative position.

Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbefore referred to will become apparent hereinafter during the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the inven- 'Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the base plate and an end elevational view of the rail brace, the rail being shown in transverse Vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary Vertical sectional view of the rail, base plate and rail brace taken substantially on the rregular line 3-3 of Fig. 1

looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a side. elevational view of the base plate, the rail brace and a portion of the rail and is taken looking from the right hand side of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4a is a fragmentary end elevational view of a portion of the brace block.

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail view of the wedge member.

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the die members used in sizing, shaping,, smoothing and ironing the brace blocks of the rail braces after annealing, a brace block being shown in position therein. v

Fig. 7 is a Vertical longitudinal sectional view through the die members and brace block shown in Fig. 6 and is taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the die used in sizing, shaping, smoothing and ironing the wedge members after annealing.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal Vertical sectional view through the die member 'of Fig. 8 and is taken substantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows. a wedge member being indicated in position in the die cavity by dot and dash lines, and

Fig. 10 is a Vertical longitudinal sectional view through the die member of Fig. 8 and is taken substantially on line IO-IO of Fig. 8 looking in` the direction of the arrows, the Wedge member being shown in position in the die cavity by dot and dash lines.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings, it will be seen that the base plate il ex-, tends beneath the rail |2 and can be secured to the ties or other suitable supporting members '(not shown) as is'well understood in the art.

The upper side of the base plate is provided with a recess in which the base flanges of theA rail |2 are located as well as the rail brace later to be described. The outer edge of the left hand base flange of the rail (as viewed in the drawings) abuts against the side |3 of the recess in the base plate I, whereby the rail is held against movement toward the left relative to the base plate ll. A straight sided stop block or strip. |4 is secured in the recess by rivets or other suitable securing means and abuts the other side of the recess in said base plate.

The rail brace comprises a brace block indicated in general by the 'numeral |6 and preferably formed from a casting which has been annealed and then sized and shaped by die Operations as will later be described and which has at the upper end of a vertically extending portion |1 a Curved bearing surface 18 which suitably nterfits the underside of the rail head and a portion of the Vertical web of the rail adjacent the head and which extends longitudinally of the rail the full length of the brace block. The brace block |6 has a substantially horizontal portion |9 merging into the Vertical portion |1 and shaped on its underside adjacent said Vertical portion to form, together with the lower inner surface of the vertical portion, a curved bearing surface 2|] that accurately interfits and engages the merging curved outer surface of the rail Web and the curved upper surface of the right hand `(as viewed in the drawings) base fiange of the rail |2.

Each end of the brace block 16 is provided with upstanding flanges 2| interconnecting the Vertical pcrtions il and the horizontal portion I9 and said flanges are also shaped to have bearing surfaces 22 forming a'continuation of the bearing surface 20 and interfitting with the merging curved surfaces of the rail web and the right hand rail flange as viewed in the drawings.

The portion 13 of the brace block is provided on its underside with downwardly projecting spaced ribs, one of which is indicated at 23 and extends transversely and diagonally of the base plate ll. The horizontal portion |9 of the brace block is extended beyond the rib'23 and such eX- tension of the portion l9 provides an overhanging lip or wedge engaging part 24 extending substantially to the stop block or strip M. The underside of the lip or wedge engaging part 24 is provided with a series of serrations or teeth 25 transversely disposed With respect to the lip and extending substantially throughout the longitudinal length thereof.

The horizontal portion l9 of the brace block is provided intermediate the fianges 2| with a pair of slots 26 elongated in a directioh longitudinally of the base plate l and .bolts 21 carried by the base plate I! extend through said slots and hold the brace block against movement transversely of the base plate, while permitting movement or adjustment of the brace block toward the rails |2 to bring the bearing surfaces |8, 20 and 22 into tight interfitting engagement with the cooperating portions of the rail. A washer plate 28 is provided with a pair of spaced openings through which the bolts 21 extend, while suitable lockwashers 29 and cap nuts 30 are mounted on the threaded upper ends of the bolts 21 and above the plate 28, from which it will be seen that the brace block can be clamped in adjust'ed position upon the base plate Il. The cap nuts 30 protect the threads of the bolts 21 from exposure to weather or from brine dripping from refrigerator cars or otherwise falling thereon, thus lessening the rusting and deterioration of the bolt threads.

A wedge member or bar 3| is arranged in the tapered space between the converging right hand side of the rib 23 of the brace block and the left hand side of the stop block or strip M and beneath the lip or wedge engaging part 24 With the straight side of the wedge engaging the straight side of the wedge engaging the straight 'side of thestop block Ill, while the inclined side of the wedge engages the diagonal rib 23.

The upper side of the wedge 3l is provided with a series of transversely disposed serrations or teeth 32 that extend substantially tliroughout the longitudinal length of the wedge and which are adapted to interlock with the serrations or teeth 25 on the underside of the lip or wedge engaging part 24 of the brace block, wherefore the wedge Will be held against movement transversely of the base plate ll.

In order to insure that the teeth or serrations 25 and 32 are properly engaged and to positively hold the wedge against undesired longitudinal movement, relative to the brace block once the wedge is in assembled position, the following construetion is employed:

The horizontal portion |9 of the `crace block and beyond the uppermost flange 2| as viewed in Fig. l, or the right hand flange 2| as viewed in Fig. l, is provided with an integral outwardly extending lug 33 and which lug has formed therein a pair of openings 34 and 35 extending through the lug and spaced vertically thereof. The wedge 34 on its straight side is provided With a series of longitudinally spaced transversely extending openings 36 located above a similar series of transversely extending openings 31. The series of openings 33 and 31 are spaced vertically of each other a distance corresponding to the vertical spacing of the openings 34 and 35 in the lug 33, while the openings 36 are staggered with respect to the openings 31 in a direction longitudinally of the wedge, with the horizontal distance between the centers of the openings 36 and 31 corresponding to the pitch of the teeth or serrations 25 and 32.

In installing the rail brace the brace block 16 is positioned upon the base plate H with the bolts 21 extending through the openings 26 and with the bearing and engaging surfaces IS, 2B and 22 of the brace block in approximate engagement with the cooperating surfaces of the rail web and rail fiange.

The wedge 3| is inserted beneath the lip 24 and between the rib 23 and stop block I 4 as far as it will readily go, after which the plate washer 28 is positioned upon the bolts 21 as are also the lock spring washers 29. The cap nuts 30 are screwed down upon the bolts but only tight enough to obtain a certain degree of spring tension on the bolts because of the spring washers 29. The wedge 3! can then be driven inwardly to force the block tightly against the rail |2.

It will be seen that due to the fact the nuts have been screwed down until the bolts are under spring tension the teeth or serrations 25 and 32 on the block and wedge will ride over each other as the wedge is driven inwardly, since the block because of the spring action of the washers will give sufiiciently for this purpose.

Also, since the nuts have been tghtened down to the extent just stated and since the block has an extensive engagement with the flange of the rail the Wedge cannot be driven so hard or the block forced so tightly against the rail as to tip the latter and raise it ofi its seat on the base plate. I i

In driving the wedge inwardly to force the block tightly against the rail care should be taken that the teeth or serrations of the block and wedge are fully engaged and this can be audibly determined since the spring tension placed on the bolts by the spring washers 29 causes the teeth or serrations to come into intermeshing engagement with a snapping action.

When the brace block has been thus tightly forced against the rail |2 the nuts 36 are screwed down upon the bolts 21, with the result that the brace block is held tightly against the rail with the bearing surfaces 18, 20 and 22 of the block in tight accurate interfitting relationship with the cooperating surfaces of the rail.

The brace block then acts to exert a sidewise pressure against the rail, as well as a downward pressure thereon to hold the rail tightly against the side |3 of the recess in the upper side of the base plate ll and fiat on said base plate.

It will also be seen that when the nuts 39 are screwed down tightly on the bolts 21 the teeth or serrations on the underside of the lip 24 of the brace block interlock with the teeth 32 on the upper side of the wedge 3|, wherefore the wedge is held against movement transversely of the base plate Il.

In addition to the audible clicking of the teeth or serrations 25 and 32 into interrneshing engagement With each other during the operative assembly of the rail brace, the rail brace is provided with a further and more definite means for determining when the teeth or serrations are completely intermeshed. The openings 36 and 31 in the wedge 3| will only align respectively with the openings 34 and 35 in the lug 33 when the teeth or serrations 25 and 32 are fully intermeshed, and hence the operator can determine when this condition is present by inserting a cotter pin 38 through the opening 34 and an opening 35 aligned therewith or through the opening 35 and an opening 31 which is in alignment therewith. If neither of the openings 34 and 35 are in alignment With one of the openings 36 or 31, respectively, the operator definitely knows that the wedge is not correctly positioned and that the teeth or serrations 25 and 32 are not fully intermeshed, itbeing remembered that the openings 36 and 31 are displaced in a direction longitudinally of the rail a distance corresponding to the pitch of said teeth or serrationS, and hence the openings 34 or 35 will be aligned. respectively, with one of the openings 35 or 31 only when the teeth or serrations are fully intermeshed.

In addition to the advantageous function just set forth said openings 34 and 35 and the openings 3B and' 31, together with the cotter pin 38, provide for a positive lock against longitudinal movement of the wedge relative to the brace block while permitting proper adjustment of the wedge and brace block with complete and full intermeshing of the teeth or serrations 25 and 32.

It will be seen that the rail brace embodying the present invention requires only one set of fastening or securing means to clamp the brace block tightly against the rail and against the wedge.

The use of only one set of fastening or securing means for the dual purpose just referred to simplifies the structure of the rail brace, reduces the number of its parts to a minimum and facilitates the application or assembly of the rail brace in operative position With respect to the rail.

Heretofore it has been necessary to provide separately applied means for holding the brace block tightly against the rail and against a Wedging member, thus increasing the number of parts and the cost of the rail brace, as well as the time required to apply the brace to the rail.

In addition, a rail brace constructed in accordance with the present invention is compactly formed and is so shaped and dimensioned as to reduce to a minimum any tendency of the rail race to rock under the lateral pressure of the rail thereagains't, wherefore the bolts and nuts constituting the securing means are sub-jec-ted to minimum strains or shearing stresses.

It will also be noted that notwithstanding the elimination of parts separate from the brace block for holding the wedge and the use of an overhanging lip or Wedge engaging part that is integral with the brace block, the securing bolts 21 are located relatively close to the rail |2 thus eliminating undesirable and excessive leverages which multiply the rocking forces to which the rail brace and`rail are subjected.

As previously set forth, it is most essential if a rail brace is to function efficiently that said brace be accurately sized or dimensioned and that the portions thereof which engage the rail correctly interfit with the rail and have full and correct bearing engagement therewith.

It has been customary heretofore to form the rail braces of castings, with the result that said braces are brittle and the critical portions thereof do not accurately interfit and have definite and correct bearing engagement with the coperating surfaces of the rail.

It is proposed to manufacture rail braces such as have been described in detail herein inlsuch way that the braces will not be brittle and will be accurately sized or dimensioned and with those portions of the braces that interfit the rail formed with the correct and necessary configurations so as to have full, accurate and definite bearing engagement with the cooperating surfaces of the rail.

In carrying out this method the rail braces including the Wedges are first formed by the usual castingoperations to the required size and in such way that the teeth or serrations 25 and 32 are formed in the brace block and the wedge.

The cast brace blocks and Wedges are then annealed to render the metal malleable and to obviate the objection of brittleness therein. The high temperatures to which the brace blocks and wedges are subjected in the course of the annealing operation tend to distort the block and wedges so as to Vary the dimensio-ns thereof and change their configuration and especially the Critical portions of the` braces which engage with the rail and render such portions rough as well as distorting the serrationsor teeth 25 and 32 to an extent that Would either fully or partially prevent their proper intermeshing or interengagement.

It is proposed to subject the brace blocks and wedges after annealing to render the same malle.. able to simple and expeditious Operations serving to accurately size or dimension the blocks and wedges; smooth, shape', compact, compress or iron down the bearing surfaces thereof such as the surfaces 18, 20 and 22 'and also to correct any malformations which may have occurred in the teeth or serrations 25 and 32.

In Fig. 6 a cast and annealed malleable brace block |6 is shown in position in a die member 39 that is provided with die cavity shaped complementary to the configuration of the underside of the rail head, the outer side of the rail web and the upper side of the rail fiange, so that the bearing surfaces |8, 20 and 22 of the brace block will substantially engage with the portions of the surface of the cavity corresponding to the enumerated portions of the rail.

It will be noted that a removable die'block 40 is positioned in the cavity of the die member 39 and that this block is engaged by the bearing surface |8 and corresponds in size and' shape to the underside of the rail head and the rail web that is engaged by the bearing surface IB. It will be understood that removable die blocks made in accordance with the size of the particular rails to which the rail b'race is to be applied will be mounted in the die member 39 as desired.

W'hen the annealed casting IG has been positioned as shown in Fig. 6 a pressure applying member or ironer 4| is moved into engagement with the casting by suitable pressure applying means such as a hydraulic press and said memer 4| is provided with a reduced lower end 42 that extends between the flanges 2| of the brace block and is shaped to interfit the Vertical portion and the horizontal portion |9 thereof. It will also be noted that the member 4| is provided With curved Shoulders 43 which engage the outer surfaces of the flanges 2| of the brace block.`

When the annealed casting in the form of the brace block |6 is subjected to the tremendous pressure applied thereagainst by the member 4| distortion which may have occurred in the brace block in the annealing operation is removed, the b-race block is accurately sized and the bearing surfaces |8, 22 and 20 are ironed or compacted into the correct configuration having the requisite smoothness and hardness to accurately intert the complementary surfaces of the rail so as to enable the rail brace to be properly positioned relative to the rail to effectively perform its function.

Subjecting the brace block to the pressures of the die members, as already stated, removes distortion therefrom, correctly shapes and sizes the brace blockJ while the bearing surfaces W, 20 and 22 are not only accurately shaped but are subjected to what may be termed a burnishing or ironing operation that smooths such surfaces and compacts the metal. When the brace block has been thus treated the material thereof will be malleable and the block will be correctly formed to function efiiciently when applied to' a rail.

The annealed wedges 3| are subjected to similar Operations by means of a die member 44 which is provided with a cavity 45 shaped to receive the Wedge when positioned therein with its broad dimension horizontal. The Wedge 3| is shown in 'position in the cavity 45 by dot and dashI lines vand by a pin 49 which engages with the small flat end of the wedge. When the wedge has been positioned in the cavity 45 it is subjected to the pressure of a member not shown and preferably forming part of a hydraulic press, with the result that the wedge if any of its under and broad side projects above the cavity 45 is compacted into the cavity 45 and thus accurately sized insofar as its thickness is concerned, while distortion in the wedge and in the teeth or serrations 32 is reduced.

The wedge is then positioned in a cavity 5D preferably formed in the same die member 44 in order to be sized with respect to its dimensions in another direction, i. e., its width. The cavity 59 has its bottom wall inclined, as indicated at 5 l, to correspond to the inclined side of the wedge and said wedge is mounted in the cavity 59 with its inclined side in engagement with the bottom wall 5| of the cavity, while the large end of the wedge engages a plate 52 secured to the member 44 and the small end of the wedge engages a pin 53 projecting upwardly from the bottom wall 5| of the cavity. If the wedge 3| is of excessive width the straight side of the wedge will extend above the ca'vity and consequently when the pressure applying member is brought into operative position it will engage the straight side of the wedge and compact the wedge fully into the cavity, thus properly sizing the wedge With respect to its width, truing the sides thereof and removing distortion therefrom.

It will be understood that two wedges may be operated on simultaneously in the die member, with one wedge in the cavity 45 and one in the cavity 50, and which latter wedge has previously been sized and pressed in the cavity 45.

It will have been seen that by Virtue of utilizing the die pressing Operations described rail braces can be produced which are accurate in size and Shape and which although made from castings and then annealed to remove the brittleness of the material and render the same malleable have the distortions and inaccuracies which might be caused by the heat of the annealng Operations removed therefrom and the members brought to the proper size, dimension and smoothness.

Although the invention has been described herein with reference to a particular structure it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto but may have other forms and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

Havlng thus described my invention I claim:

1. A rail brace adapted to be used with a base plate arranged beneath a railroad rail and comprising a brace block having portions for engaging and acourately interfitting portions of the rail and mounted for adjustment toward the rail, means for clamping said brace block against the rail and for holding the block against movement transversely of the base plate, and a wedge member for forcing said block tightly against the rail, said block and said wedge member being provided with cooperating teeth or serrations which are adapted to be brought into interlocking relationship when said means looks the block in position against the rail, said block and said wedge member also being provided with cooperating openings aligning with each other only when said teeth or serrations are fully interlocked and thus signifying such condition and enabling a positive looking element to be passed through said openings.

2. A rail brace comprising a base plate to be arranged beneath a railway rail, a brace block on said plate and having portions for engaging and accurately interfitting with portions of the rail, said brace block being provided with an elongated slot and said base plate being provided with a bolt extending through said slot and carrying' means for clamping the block in adjusted position, said slot and said bolt enabling said block to be adjusted toward the rail while holding the block against movement transversely of the plate,

and a wedge member for forcing said block tightly having on its underside teeth cooperating with the teeth on the wedge member whereby when said block is clamped in position against the rail said teeth will interengage, said block and said wedge being provided with cooperating openings aligning With each other only when said teeth are interengaged to thus signfy such condition and to enable a positive looking member to be passed through said openings.

3. A rail brace comprising a base plate to be arranged beneath a railway rail, a brace block mounted on said plate and having portions proi viding accurately formed bearing surfaces complementary to portions of the rail and adapted to engage the latter, said block and said plate having cooperating means whereby said block can be adjusted toward the rail and locked in adjusted position, said block at its edge remote from the rail being provided with an integral overhanging lip having teeth on its underside, said block also being provided on its underside adjacent said overhanging lip With a downwardly projecting rib extending transversely and diagonally of the base plate, and a wedge member arranged beneath said overhanging lip and cooperating with said rib and a portion of said base plate for forcing the bearing surfaces of said block tightly against the rail, said wedge member being provided on its upper surface With teeth which interlock With the teeth on the underside of the overhanging lip when said block is clamped in adjusted position by said cooperating means, said block and said wedge member also being provided with openings aligning with each other only When said teeth are fully interlocked, thus signifying such condition and permitting the insertion of a positive looking element through said openings.

4. A rail brace comprising a base plate to be arranged beneath a railway rail, a brace block mounted on said plate and having portions thereof formed to provide bearing surfaces complementary tolportions of the rail, a wedge member for forcing said block tightly against the rail, means for looking said block in position against the rail and for holding said block against move- *nent transversely of the base plate, said block and said Wedge member being provided with integral cooperating teeth which are brought into interlocking relationshp when said means looks the block in position against the rail, said block also having a portion provided with a pair of Vertically spaced openings and said Wedge member being provided with a pair of vertically spaced series of transversely extending openings, the openings of one series being staggered with respect to the openings of the other series a distance corresponding to the pitch of said cooperating teeth, Whereby an opening of one or the other of said series of openings in the wedge member will align with one or the other of the vertically spaced openings in the brace block only when said teeth are fully interlocked.

' GEORGE ARNOLD. 

